A Father's Farewell

William L. Houston experienced success as a prominent black lawyer in the nation's capital. Soon after the war began, his son Charles enlisted, and he shortly became one of the men accepted for officer training in June 1917. The following year William Houston wrote: "No son has ever left home whose parents had greater pride in him than we have in you." After serving overseas, Charles Hamilton Houston became dean of Howard Law School, dismantling racist legislation through advocacy at the Supreme Court, and mentoring a cadre of civil rights lawyers including Thurgood Marshall.